In the Old Testament, God appeared as a war-God -- He would encourage religious wars and genocide; He encouraged stoning; He encouraged several violent things.

In the New Testament, God appeared in human flesh as a peace-God -- He encouraged non-violence even to the extent of self-sacrifice.

Why is this? Why didn't God directly show and teach the Beatitudes and the Our Father and unconditional love as such?

Because unfortunately, since the Fall, humans have to learn things the hard way. As a consequence the Way had to be prepared first for the fullness of time.

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Question a friend, perhaps he did not do it; but if he did anything so that he may do it no more.A hasty quarrel kindles fire,and urgent strife sheds blood.If you blow on a spark, it will glow;if you spit on it, it will be put out; and both come out of your mouth

Question a friend, perhaps he did not do it; but if he did anything so that he may do it no more.A hasty quarrel kindles fire,and urgent strife sheds blood.If you blow on a spark, it will glow;if you spit on it, it will be put out; and both come out of your mouth

St. Matthew's Gospel is basically one big explanation of how Jesus relates to and perfectly fulfills what God asked of all the venerable Jewish heroes (especially Moses and Joshua), with particular attention to violence and conquering of gentiles.

Also, St. Paul addresses the issue at length in Romans.

As for the Fathers: In general, the early church Fathers looked at violence in the OT as typological and/or allegorical. You can find many little quotes to that effect by looking at that series published by InterVarsity called Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, specifically the volumes that cover Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. I used to own the series but sold it. Perhaps someone else can look it up for you.

I guess it will not be wrong to apply St. Paul's typology about two distinct Adams to the Old and New Testament.

First Adam = Old Testament LawSecond Adam = New Testament Law

The spiritual one came later. The Old Testament Law was mundane in that it was related to this world and to "body" more than the soul whereas the New Testament is celestial and eternal because it is affiliated with the Kingdom of Heaven and the salvation/sanctification of human soul.

In the Old Testament, God appeared as a war-God -- He would encourage religious wars and genocide; He encouraged stoning; He encouraged several violent things.

In the New Testament, God appeared in human flesh as a peace-God -- He encouraged non-violence even to the extent of self-sacrifice.

Why is this? Why didn't God directly show and teach the Beatitudes and the Our Father and unconditional love as such?

Forgive me.. I'm just curious -- this is usually what atheists punch Orthodoxy with.

Actually, in the New Testament, God appeared very much as a war-God. But to paraphrase St. Paul, Christ's battle was not against flesh and blood, but against Satan and death. The Orthodox Church has always placed a heavy emphasis on Christ's Crucifixion and Resurrection, for example, as the glorious acts of a victorious warrior King, who vanquishes His foes and smashes their heads against the rocks. On the topic of self-sacrifice, the Desert Father's (and even Friedrich Nietzsche) agree that asceticism is warfare to the last breath.

Basically the battlefield has just moved from the outside to the inside. But our God is still the Lord of Hosts (armies)!

Think of the Paschal troparion itself: it's hard to "trample" someone peacefully! But of course, Jesus doesn't encourage His followers to take up the sword, but to take up their cross, as He did, because as he says to Pilate, His Kingdom is not of this world.

« Last Edit: April 05, 2010, 05:31:27 PM by JLatimer »

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1 Samuel 25:22 (KJV)So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.